City’s budget for infra, disaster projects biggest

CEBU, Philippines - A huge chunk of the proposed 2015 Annual Budget of Cebu City will go to infrastructure and disaster preparedness projects.

The city’s Department of Engineering and Public Works and the Local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management got a total of P8.5 billion of the appropriation, which is roughly 45 percent of next year’s budget of P18.9 billion.

As proposed by the executive department, over P5 million was allotted for DEPW, while P3.5 million was set aside for LDRRM.

Of the total DEPW appropriations, P114.8 million was for maintenance of city streets and bridges, P39.4 million for maintenance services, and P10.1 million for general administration.

It also covers maintenance of drainage and flood control infrastructures (P7.5 million), drainage and flood control programs (P3.5 million) and other supplies and material expenses (P4 million).

The other proposed infrastructure projects are construction of bridges (P150 million), construction of a new abattoir (P5 million), road concreting with drainage system in Mambaling (P25 million), reconstruction of the V. Rama Avenue sidewalk from the N. Bacalso Avenue junction up to the Guadalupe Church (P12 million), concreting of the three meter easement along Mahiga Creek to connect with F. Batiller Street (P15 million), construction of seawall and river embankment (P400 million), paving and retreading of various city streets (P300 million), and heritage site development (P100 million).

To address the flooding problem in the metropolis, P1.5 billion was allotted for the repair and construction of drainage systems, waterways, aqueducts, seawalls, river wall, among others.

Other appropriations are heavy equipment and motor vehicle outlay (P50 million each), suction machine (P3 million); construction of a new building for various departments and offices (P75 million); construction of Unit II of the Carbon Public Market (P150 million); and improvement of Unit I of the said market (P500,000); and rehabilitation and recovery of city sidewalks, including acquisition of right-of-way and structures (P200 million).

Road concreting with drainage system projects in the northern mountain barangays (P377.2 million) from Adlaon to Lusaran, Adlaon to Guba, Agsungot to Paril, Agsungot to Binaliw, Agsungot to Cambinocot, Agsungot to Guba, Agsungot to Mabini, Binaliw to Mabini, Binaliw 1 to Binaliw 3, Binaliw to Pulangbato, Budlaan to Pulangbato, Budlaan to Talamban, Cambinocot to Lusaran, Cambinocot to Paril, Guba to Pulangbato, Guba to Sirao, Lusaran to Tagbao, Mabini to Paril, Pit-os to Pulangbato, Pulangbato to San Jose, and Pulangbato to Sirao.

Road concreting with drainage system projects (P219.6 million) in the mountain barangays of south district, on the other hand, will be made in Barangays Babag to Bonbon, Bonbon to Buot, Buhisan to Toong, Buot to Sinsin, Campo to Sinsin, Campo to Sinsin, Cantipla to Sudlon II, Guadalupe to Kalunasan, Guadalupe to Sapangdaku, Pamutan to Sapangdaku, Pamutan to Toong, Sinsin to Sudlon I, Sudlon I to Sudlon II, Tagbao to Tabunan Proper, Pung-ol Sibugay to Babag, and Taptap to Tagbao.

On the other hand, the LDRRM proposed budget would be used to pay the city’s outstanding loan amortization with the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (P3.1 billion) and the corresponding interest payments (P162.7 million). Only P243.6 million would be deposited with the Local Risk Reduction Management Fund.

Based on the current statement of debt service records at the City Accountant Office, Cebu City Hall still to pay P3.1 billion to JBIC for the loan it took in 1997 in developing the 300-hectare South Road Properties.  (FREEMAN)